Our Board Members

Hello, I'm Chris Harrington. I have lived in the Hutt valley for 30 years and I'm a grandfather. I have worked in central government, mostly in Health and I've also had 7 years as a volunteer budget adviser in Lower Hutt. It is through my membership of the DHB's Consumer Council that I have become involved in maternity issues again recently, and that has led to my joining the Hutt Maternity Action Trust. I'm supporting the Trust to make a positive and practical difference for the mums and families using our maternity services.

Kia ora, I have been a midwife for 28 years, and worked in Aotearoa for 18 of those in various roles, and more recently as midwifery manager at Te Awakairangi Birthing Centre before it sadly closed it doors. During this time I had the privilege of working closely with the Hutt maternity community and welcome the opportunity to contribute to improving services for all involved. I am muma to 3 lovely adults and Nana to two beautiful little ones - one of which I recently ‘caught’ when she was born at my home in Petone.

Kia Ora, I live in Lower Hutt with my partner, Chris, and our energetic two year old daughter. I have always been passionate about health and well-being which is reflected in my career as a mental health occupational therapist. After having my daughter at Hutt Hospital in 2021, I became more interested in supporting other women in their maternity journeys and ensuring they have timely access to care that best meets their needs. I am particularly interested in how we can best support women who experience complications with pregnancies, as well as those families who have babies in SCBU. It has been a privilege to join and be part of the work the Oxytocin Trust does and I look forward to our continued work to improve maternity services in Te Awa Kairangi/ Hutt Valley.

Kia ora. I live in Lower Hutt with my husband and two sons. I have always been interested in improving the wellbeing of local children and families through my career as a primary school teacher. Over my years of involvement in Lower Hutt Parents Centre, and particularly after the birth of my second child in 2019, I have become really motivated to improve conditions for birthing women and maternity staff in the Hutt.

Kia ora. I live in the Hutt Valley with my husband Matt and three children (12, 10 and 5). Before children, I worked as a secretary in a Wellington law firm. Since becoming a stay at home Mama, I am grateful to have found many ways to become active in my own Hutt community including becoming a breastfeeding peer supporter, being a consumer at Hutt Maternity, and many years my local playcentre. I have a real passion for supporting our Mamas, babies and their whānau, especially during their maternity journey and through my own experiences, I have a particular interest in breastfeeding and birth trauma.

Ki te taha o tōku mama
Ko Tautari te maunga
Ko Waikato te Awa
Ko Ngāti Hauā te Iwi
Ko Tainui te Waka
Ko Rukumoana te marae
Ko Werewere te whareTupuna
Ko Wiremu Tamehana Tarapipipi te Waharoa toku Tupuna

Ki te taha tōku Papa
Ko Te Arawa raua Ko Tainui Nga Waka,
Ko Otawa te maunga
Ko Raparapa-a-Hoe te Awa
Ko Waitaha te Iwi
Ko Hei te Marae
Āpiti atu hoki
Ko Tautari te maunga
Ko Kirihika te hapu
Ko Ukaipo te marae
Ko Ngāti Raukawa te Iwi.

Ko Tapu Te Ranga te marae o toku Papa.

Kei Wainuiomata te kāinga noho
Ko Reg Weka Porter-Samuels toku tapuhi
Ko Orapai tōku ingoa.

I started a family young and have four generations in our Whānau.
My background is whānau whānui mahi in the community, midwifery, antenatal tutor in both pakeha settings and kaupapa Māori wananga on the marae.
Some would call me the 'token', others would say 'token of love', particularly for Wāhine and whānau issues.

Kia ora. I've lived in the Hutt since 2007 having moved to Wellington from the UK in 2002 with my husband, Graham. Both our daughters, Zoe and Phoebe, were born here with the support of wonderful midwives. I have worked and volunteered in the birthing world for over 20 years.  I really love my work as a Calmbirth Educator where I see the joy brought back to birthing. I have seen and experienced the limitations of the current maternity system and so I am passionate about creating a way of working together to see pregnant, birthing women and new mamas thriving in the Hutt.